Microwave excitation of a CO/sub 2/ laser. Master's thesis

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6693774

Page, R C

A flowing carbon dioxide laser was operated at low pressures up to 4 torr. Excitation of the laser was provided using various combinations of direct current (DC), pulsed microwave, and continuous wave (CW) microwave excitation. The microwaves were in the 2.45 GHz band and were coupled into the gas using a slow-wave interdigital transmission line. Laser output of 25 milliwatts (mw) was achieved using a DC discharge only. A combination of a DC discharge and pulsed microwaves doubled the output and resulted in some modulation. Changing the laser gas mixture and pulsed microwave field characteristics allowed some flexibility in the modulation. Lasing was not achieved with excitation from the CW microwaves alone due to the formation of localized discharges. Using pulsed microwaves to sustain the discharge and CW microwaves to pump the laser, a quasi-CW output of 55 mw was achieved.

• Research Organization: Air Force Inst. of Tech., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (USA). School of Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6693774
• Report Number(s): AD-A-138057/5; AFIT/GEP/PH-83D-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
CURRENTS
DIRECT CURRENT
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GASES
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
LASERS
LOW PRESSURE
MICROWAVE RADIATION
MIXTURES
MODULATION
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES